Children's futures shattered by 2022 floods

As the climate crisis continues, children are increasingly exposed to illiteracy, child labour and early marriages

LAHORE:

Following the devastation caused by the heavy rains and catastrophic flooding in 2022, many people rallied to provide humanitarian aid through food, clothing and medicine for the affected families.

However, no amount of aid could restore the futures of innocent children whose lives were upended. Muhammad Arsalan, a 12-year-old boy, was found working at a shop in Gulberg. Originally from Rajanpur, Arsalan had been living with a relative in Lahore for the past three years. Before the floods, Arsalan was a Class 4 student, but when the disaster struck in 2022, his home and school were completely destroyed, forcing him and his family to flee to Lahore.

"When the reconstruction of homes in my hometown was complete, my parents and four siblings return, but they left me behind since I had started working for Rs200 a day," Arsalan shared.

Like Arsalan, thousands of children across the country have been forced to face similar setbacks and challenges due to the impacts of climate change. The 2022 floods, in particular, decimated schools across Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, leaving thousands of children without access to education for months.

UN figures further revealed that two million children did not return to classrooms once the floods had subsided.

According to Nadeem Ashraf, a member of the National Commission for Human Rights in Punjab, in the aftermath of the 2022 floods, many schools in the affected areas were either completely destroyed or severely affected, due to which educational activities remained suspended for several months. "Nearly 1.5 million children were displaced as a result of the floods. The displaced children not only struggled academically but also suffered from various ailments, including skin diseases and gastrointestinal diseases.

The recovery process after migration is long and difficult and the affected families, especially women and children, face uncertainty and insecurity," said Ashraf. Iftikhar Mubarak, Executive Director at Search for Justice, highlighted the fact that children, who were the most vulnerable segment of society, suffered the most from climate crises.

"During the devastating floods of 2022, countless educational institutions were destroyed, and children's education was abruptly suspended. Similarly, recently, the closure of schools across the province due to the smog crisis has once again disrupted education," noted Mubarak. Mubarak further opined that the economic distress caused by climate change instigated child labour. "When parents, especially those involved in agriculture or animal husbandry, lose their livelihood, the children are often forced to work as labourers to support the household financially. Hence, the uncertainty and disruption caused by climate change can create a sense of insecurity and fear among children, affecting their emotional and social development," he added.

On the other hand, Fatima Tahir, a clinical psychologist, was of the opinion that the climate crisis disproportionately affected girls in Pakistan. "After disasters like floods and droughts, girls are forced to take on additional household responsibilities, which hinders their education and development.

Furthermore, limited access to resources and support systems, health risks, and displacement disrupts girls' education, increasing their risk of exploitation and abuse. Additionally, financial difficulties increase the likelihood of underage or forced marriages, which takes away the girl child's right to education," emphasized Tahir.

Climate marriages have indeed emerged as a significant challenge, with 45 underage girls married off in a single village in interior Sindh during the monsoon rains last year. According to data provided by the Inspector General Police Sindh to the Sindh Home Department, 57 cases of child marriage were registered in eight districts of Sindh between 2018 and 2023.